Book 16: Chapter 5
In a concerned tone, Lucia asked, “Is it really all right, Your Highness? I won’t be in the imperial palace… Will the girls… be all right…? Also… will you be all right without me?”
I shook my head and touched Lucia’s head with a smile: “We’ll be fine, Lucia. You’ve just returned, so you should spend a night at home. Leave Vera and Nona to the maids. They’ll be fine. Moreover, Mommy Vyvyan will keep an eye on them; don’t worry. As for me… I, indeed, have a bit of a problem.”
Lucia came closer to inspect me: “What is the problem, Your Highness? Tell me whatever problem it is that you have, and I shall help you.”
I pulled little Lucia into my embrace with one arm. I stroked her head and, in a tender voice, responded, “I’ll miss you. It’s not every day that we can return home, so I want to spend more time with you. Since you’re leaving, I’ll feel very lonely. I can’t stop you from spending time with your parents, either; therefore, all I can do is hope that you can come back sooner. I’ll miss you.”
“Your Highness…” Lucia shyly, yet happily, snuggled up on my chest. She then raised her head and gave me a light kiss on my cheek. She smiled: “I’ll be back tomorrow, Your Highness.”
“All right.”
I touched Lucia’s head again. Echte came up from behind as I touched her head. I waved. Lucia went off with her father, but she’d look back three times every step. She’d walk backwards if she could.
Lucia’s house wasn’t located inside the elven imperial city, because a maid and an imperial guard wouldn’t earn enough to afford a property in the imperial city. Additionally, Echte had a family and, therefore, couldn’t live in a dorm. Hence, they had no choice but to live in the residential district outside of the city.
Echte’s family members were all simple and honest people. Despite having become a member of the Galadriel Tribe, they didn’t throw their weight around. To the contrary, they continued to work and live humbly. They never leveraged their daughter to request Queen Vyvyan for anything.